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Reviews

My son who entered first grade and has challenges learning has gone above and beyond with the help of the school and his teachers. His teacher would contract me through out the year to talk about my sons progress. My Son really loved his teacher (Mrs. Baker). What he was taught in class amazed me. His reading and math astonished me. He and his younger sister who was in kindergarden were leaning math equations. My son was reading a whole tree house book a night due to his new found excitement in reading that his teachers gave him. The principle knew the students by name. The staff really reaches out to the students and truly wants them to succeed. The information that they are learning is astronomical. This is a GREAT School.

- submitted by a community member

September 20, 2014

I have been a parent with at least 1 child in Shining Mountain for 8 yrs so far and have moved twice in that time but stayed inside the school boundary to keep my children in this Amazing school! All of my children exceed grade level and have never failed a state standard test. The building, teachers, Pta and parents are everything you could ever hope for in a community. The most amazing thing about Shining Mountain Staff/Volunteers is that they have become more then just the adults at my child's school they have become their family. They truly care about each and every child.

- submitted by a parent

September 19, 2014

I use to live in Monroe WA, and ever since we moved out here and I put my kid into this school I was so happy and thankful that we did. I love Shining Mountain, this is my sons 3rd year attending and we have loved every teacher he has had. I now have two kids attending and they both love it here.

- submitted by a parent

September 19, 2014

Shining Mountain elementary. This is the 4th year that my son has attended this school. I must say that the PTA is amazing! They along with the teachers and the students have made this a great school. The amount of involvement that the give and include the parents in the everyday happenings ...words can not describe the impact they bestow upon the school. I would never consider another school for my son.

- submitted by a parent

September 19, 2014

My daughter went to Shining Mountain for 6 years. They have an amazing PTA and support from the parents who volunteer. My daughter has some special needs and the social worker and principal made it their business to be closely involved in her welfare. They have good communication and truly care about the kids placed in their care everyday.

- submitted by a parent

September 19, 2014

We are a military family and chose to put our son in Shining Mountain Elementary. We have only been a part of the Shining Mountain Family for just under a year now, but I love the school, the faculty, and the PTA. The principal is very interactive with parents. He is always outside before and after school. He makes sure to the greet the students and parents everyday. The teachers have been very understanding with my Soldier's deployment situation and have done an awesome job working with me through it. I have never had such a positive relationship with teachers than what I have experienced with the Shining Mountain faculty members. They are very understanding and more than willing to work with parents to create a positive learning environment for the students. I would recommend this school to any incoming military families.

- submitted by a parent

May 24, 2014

Worst choice for my kids. We moved into the district from out of state. I have never seen such chaos in a school before. My kids seem to have "laid back" teachers. This has been awful for them. I have found ONE great teacher there! The PTA is a joke. Parents make the school, the lack of involvement from parents here is astonishing. The rudeness and glares we get on a daily basis is unbelievable. They have not been welcoming to us as a new family. I feel useless every time I volunteer to help with an event. I get stared at and ignored. I'm almost positive we are removing our children from this school and possibly the district next school year.

- submitted by a parent

May 07, 2013

Shining Mountain has very large class sizes (30+). At the begining of the school year it can take six weeks for them to make class adjustments causing stress on students that they move from one class to another. The principal as well as district administration tend to tell you what you want to hear, but don't back it up with any type of action. Parent involvement is horible although the PTA works hard to help. They also will not allow any student to ride their bike to school, even though there are 350 homes connected to the school via private roads, and they have a bike rack. The only thing I have seen good about this school is that they have a incredible brand new building and the PTA works very hard to help students.

Shining Mountain has the most involved staff my children have had the pleasure of being taught. The principal is also very involved with fire drills being more organized then I can ever remember even from my old schools growing up. The kids all are eager to get to class and my children are definitely no exception to that.

- submitted by a parent

May 17, 2012

Well to start with the PTA is amazing! Along with every single teacher. Shining Mountain really goes ABOVE and BEYOND and not just teaching our kids, but for anything! They are there for them with encouraging words or just someone to listen to our little ones when they need someone to talk to! Staff is always friendly and helpful! Wishing my boys don't grow up, or all the teachers/staff move with them (i.e middle school, high school)!

- submitted by a parent

April 24, 2012

Shining Mountain is a great school and has really made an effort the past few years to become even better. Recently recognized as a "no excuses university" school, it is showing improvement and that every class is making efforts to help ALL students succeed (no excuses!) we believe in academic excellence for all of our children and are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. I have worked in over five different area schools and I am so impressed with the commitment to the students that Shining Mountain has, I hope to be here for many more years!

- submitted by a teacher

October 03, 2011

I am so proud that my children go to Shining Mountain. The teachers are awesome at keeping communication open between home and school.My kids love their teachers and they WANT to go to school every day and are proud of what they learned. If my kids are excited to go to school and excited about what they are learning, this school and these teachers are doing something very right. I read below that it is hard to speak with the Principal. I disagree strongly. The Principal is outside saying goodbye to kids almost every day. I have seen her in classrooms and walking in the hallways and she is always friendly. I would say if it's hard to find time to talk to her, it is because she is busy doing her job and as a parent I appreciate that! For the parents who are complaining about the school, I would suggest talking to the teachers and staff at school. They can't help you feel more comfortable if you don't tell them your concerns.

- submitted by a parent

September 27, 2011

I really wish the person who posted about movies all day had contacted me, the teacher. Instead of there being a misunderstanding, I could help clarify what is happening. Students brought pg and g movies in for their lunch time only. So they watched a movie for about 15 minutes at a time during their lunch. That was the extent of the movie watching. The students were working throughout the day focused on the standards for 5th grade which we referenced regularly. I'm truly sorry that you felt like they did not work. Please, in the future no matter who the teacher is, ask questions to clarify for understanding.

- submitted by a teacher

June 09, 2011

I have been lucky to have good teachers who give children challenges and/or give the attention needed to those who need extra help. The principal is always in a meeting so it is difficult for parents to speak with her. I have noticed this with several other staff members as well ie) social worker, speech therapist. I have also seen the principal ignore what a student is telling her during a family school function. I do not know what the PTA does around this school. Several parents have said they are PTA members but never have been called to help volunteer. Thank goodness we have the opportuniyt to volunteer in the classroom.

- submitted by a parent

March 29, 2011

This is by far the most awful school my child has ever attended. He is currently in the fifth grade. Instead of doing school work the children are watching movies most of the day. The movies are non educational and are not always appropriate for school. I am not informed by the teacher what movies are being watched, nor am I asked for permission to watch these movies. I believe the teacher is not doing his job. Very bad teaching staff and district. If you want your child to be successful attend a private school.

- submitted by a parent

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